Residual kidney function after donor nephrectomy

Changes in residual kidney Pulsatility Index following living donor nephrectomy

OBJECTIVE

Nephrectomy in kidney transplant donors provokes a compensatory hyperfiltration process of the residual kidney, characterized by changes in renal vascular hemodynamics. This research aimed to determine the short-term difference in the pulsatility index (PI) of kidney transplant donors' residual kidney before and after nephrectomy.

METHODS

This is a prospective historical study using secondary data from kidney transplant living donors who have undergone nephrectomy at a tertiary referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia, from March 2019 to January 2020. PI of renal, segmental, interlobar, and arcuate arteries of the residual kidneys were measured in the preoperative and day-1, day-7, day-30 postoperative period. The pre- and postoperative PI values were statistically analyzed to examine differences between the groups.

RESULTS

PI of 40 residual kidneys were obtained. There were no significant mean PI changes in the arteries except for the middle interlobar artery (p = 0.049), which showed no significant difference after post hoc analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant short-term difference in PI of the residual kidney before and after kidney transplant donor nephrectomy.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Short-term postoperative PI of the residual kidney arteries may not be suitable as a predictor for chronic kidney disease in kidney transplant donors. Other quantitative Doppler ultrasound parameters must be considered.

Living donor nephrectomy--quantifying the risk for the donor

Living kidney donation is on the rise, either due to cultural or ethical reasons or due to a lack of deceased donor kidneys. For adequately counseling of a potential living kidney donor, medical professionals must know not only the immediate risks of kidney donation but also possible long-term effects of kidney donation on the donor's physical and psychological well-being. This also includes a range of aspects such as quality of life, insurance issues, and family planning following kidney donation. This review article is based on a Medline and PubMed search and elucidates the risks living kidney donors face with regard to all aspects just mentioned. Living kidney donation does not end with the operative procedure--long-term cost-free physical and psychological follow-up should be offered to each donor for the gift he or she is willing to give to the recipient.